Mubarak’s Retreat Opens Treacherous Path to Democracy

Seen through the eyes of the exhilarated protesters in Cairo ‘s Tahrir Square, President Hosni Mubarak ‘s peace offering Tuesday was infuriating. Revolutionaries like their rebellions to end with the despised leader’s head on a stake, at least figuratively, not controlling a seven-month transition to a new government. Mubarak should have resigned. He is toxic, and his presence can only contaminate the process and undermine trust in the next government.

But emotions and pacing aside, the protesters appear destined for an extraordinary victory, and in the rebellion’s triumph lies enormous opportunity for the United States, along with a hefty serving of risk.

This is a rare chance for the U.S. to align its policies with its democratic ideals — not by trying to impose democracy, as in Iraq, but by simply letting it rise.

Nowhere is the United States more reflexively despised than in the Arab world, partly because of its unshakeable support for Israel, but also because of its support for repressive regimes such as Mubarak’s. Should frustrated Egyptians now begin to see the U.S. as an ally in achieving their aspirations, the United States might eventually have a democratic ally rather than a repressive one. If they do not, the next government of Egypt could end the Mideast peace process, disrupt oil supplies and aid terrorists.

Unfortunately, President Obama’s brief, matter-of-fact response Tuesday to Mubarak’s actions did little to inspire admiration. In fact, his tacit acquiescence to Mubarak’s plan might have done the opposite.

Granted, the president was walking a tightrope, trying to strike a balance between the protesters’ desires to throw off their shackles and the fears of leaders of American allies such as Saudi Arabia and Jordan that the U.S. could abandon them as well.

Granted, too, that any path toward democracy is sure to be treacherous. Democracy takes decades to mature, and it can’t guarantee that Egyptians will share American goals. In the short term, autocrats are more reliable.

But support for democracy is still the right path.

Obama should continue to push for Mubarak’s rapid departure. His administration should cultivate relationships with opposition leaders, and if Mubarak still refuses to go, Obama should insist on international supervision of elections and prod Mubarak to separate himself from the transition process.

Mubarak might yet try to maintain power by military force. That’s how China ended the equally inspiring Tiananmen uprising in 1989, and how Iran put down protesters last year. But even if the military goes along, Mubarak will still be gone soon.

When that happens, the emerging forces of Egyptian democracy need to see America as an ally, not a defender of their oppressor.

USA Today